Tag Archives: Vampires

Angels’ Pawn by Nalini Singh

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
Angels' Pawn

Title: Angels’ Pawn
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Guild Hunter #0.6
In: Angels’ Flight (Nalini Singh)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Angels, Paranormal romance, Vampires
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: Stepping into the shower, Ashwini turned it to freezing.

Synopsis

In Angels’ Pawn a vampire hunter faces off against two rival factions and the angel manipulating them both, and a vampire whose help is not entirely selfless…

Thoughts

So far in the novellas there have been angels and angels, hunters and hunters in romances… but not yet a hunter and vampire relationship. And after this novella, I’m still not quite sure if this line got crossed or not. Regardless, Ashwini and Janvier make a perfectly chaotic pairing. The idea of mayhem, madness and a little bit of lust thrown in makes this a thoroughly enjoyable ride.

More than any of the other Guild Hunter stories so far, this story showed the inhumanity and depravity of the angels. Or at least, some of them. The political machinations and manoeuvrings in just this short amount of pages made my head spin a little. And although I have read the Psy-Changeling series and there is many similar moments throughout, this was far more intimidating and overwhelming. Possibly because the lead character was so much closer to the ruthlessness. And so much more afraid.

<- Angels’ JudgmentAngels’ Blood ->

Image source: Goodreads

Angels’ Judgment by Nalini Singh

Book Review, , , , , ,
Overview
Angels' Judgment

Title: Angels’ Judgment
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Guild Hunter #0.5
In: Angels’ Flight (Nalini Singh) & Must Love Hellhounds (Charlaine Harris)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Angels, Paranormal romance, Vampires
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: “Lucy’s pregnant.”

Synopsis

In Angels’ Judgment a hunter must rack one of her own gone bad, while surviving the deadly tests placed in her way by the archangels themselves. Unexpected backup comes from a stranger who might just be the most lethal threat of all…

Thoughts

I love Sara. She is the perfect mix of tough, independent and savvy. The fact that she is due to lead a group of hunters who are just as tough, independent, and probably scary, kind of makes her a perfect lead. I love that although she starts off entirely naïve to the potential danger of her new leadership-situation, she quickly grasps the gravity of the situation and comes out swinging.

Although Sara’s independence and strength are probably my favourite things about this novella, I also love her male counterpart. Part of that might just be because I love the fact that he is called the Slayer. Which, when you have a series based on vampires and vampire hunters, can you really get a better name? The shadow man of the Guild might not seem like the perfect partner for their future leader, but somehow, in the midst of finding a murder and foiling attempts at Sara’s dethronement, they work in perfectly.

Having mentioned all of that, this novella didn’t actually have the end that I was expecting…. Which worked out beautifully for me. And left me with that great, bubbly feeling that all good stories do.

<- Angels’ DanceAngels’ Pawn ->

Image source: Booktopia

Angels’ Dance by Nalini Singh

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
Angels' Dance

Title: Angels’ Dance
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Guild Hunter #0.4
In: Angels’ Flight (Nalini Singh)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Angels, Paranormal romance, Vampires
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: But if there is need, Raphael requests you allow him to fly you, too.

Synopsis

In Angels’ Dance an angel trapped in the mountain stronghold of the Refuge finds herself under siege by a warrior angel from a martial court.

Thoughts

This was my introduction to the Guild Hunter series. Since I was already familiar with some of Singh’s work, I knew that her short stories and novellas always help to add to an overarching series. Thus, I began with the story that starts 400 years before the rest of the series. And, it wasn’t in anyway a mistake – I am now completely hooked into this new adventure, and just waiting on the next book to arrive…

Jessamy and Galen are the exact definitions of opposites attracting. Jessamy is seen to be an invalid, unable to leave the home of angels, and although respected, often overlooked for her injuries. Galen on the other hand is never overlooked. He is large, aggressive, and not prone to thinking about his actions and those of others in depth. Or at least, that is how they both appear on the surface. As I have discovered with Singh’s writing, nothing is as it seems and the journey to romance that is often the key thread is littered with small discoveries of a character’s history.

Although my love of this story stems primarily from the joys of a well written love story, I found this new world fascinating. Angels and archangels help to create a tale that just helps to raise the stakes as I discovered the new rules for a brand new series…

<- Angels’ FlightAngels’ Judgment ->

Image source: Goodreads

House Rules by Chloe Neill

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
House Rules

Title: House Rules
Author: Chloe Neill
Series: Chicagoland Vampires #7
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Paranormal fantasy, Vampires
Pace: Slow
Format: Novel
Publisher: New American Library
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: And my grandfather Chuck Merit.

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Synopsis

In a city full of vampires, trouble never sleeps.

At the tender age of twenty-seven, merit became a sword-wielding vampire. Since then, she’s become the protector of her House, watched Chicago nearly burn to the ground, and seen her Master fall and rise. Now she’ll see her mettle – and her metal – tested like never before.

It starts when two Rogues vanish without a trace. Someone is targeting Chicago’s vampires, and anyone could be next. With their House in peril, Merit and her Master, centuries-old Ethan Sullivan, must race to stop the disappearances. But as they untangle a web of secret alliances and ancient evils, they realize their foe is more familiar, and more powerful, than they could have ever imagined.

Thoughts

I still really enjoy this series, but the Ethan and Merit saga is starting to get a little old. They’re in love, they get their shit together, then something happens and it all goes up in flames. Then, at the end of the story, it’s all happily ever after. Until the next time. I’m all for a little bit of romantic drama, but in this novel I was finding it a little tedious. Plus, I like it when I actually like the lead man – and this is just making Ethan into kind of a dick.

Having said all of that, the Cadogan house leaving the vampire mafia and striking out on their own is a really enjoyable experience. It not only highlights the corruptness of some large governing bodies (power over protection, etc), but the sense in Merit and her cohorts that justice and what is right needs to come before what is politically acceptable. The addition of a vampiric serial killer into the mix helps to liven up the double-dealings and trickery that the vampires are forced to seriously consider their priorities.

The political ramifications of a serial killer who is preying on vampires is spine-chilling. They are forced to examine every which way in which somebody can break into their sanctuaries and commit murder. That, and old enemies raise their heads to create an extra patina of fear that is going to carry through the next few books (I predict anyway).

<- Biting ColdBiting Bad ->

Image source: Chloe Neill

The Lady of the House of Love by Angela Carter

Book Review, , , , , ,

Overview

The Lady of the House of LoveTitle: The Lady of the House of Love
Author: Angela Carter
In: The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories (Angela Carter)
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Classics, Dark fantasy, Vampires
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Vintage
Year: 1979
5th sentence, 74th page: All the silver tears fall from the wall with a flimsy tinkle.

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Synopsis

A virginal English soldier, traveling through Romania by bicycle, finds himself in a deserted village. He comes across a mansion inhabited by a vampiress who survives by enticing young men into her bedroom and feeding on them. She intends to feed on the young soldier but his purity and virginity have a curious effect on her.

Thoughts

Sleeping beauty with a dark twist. And not in the slightest what I expected. Actually, it kind of gave me the heeby jeebies. The beautifully lyrical and intense words seemed to completely offset the dark, twisted nature of this vampiri-fic (yes, I went there) story. It was actually so unsettling that I’m glad I read this early in the morning, not late at night. After all, who ever heard of sleeping beauty as a reluctant vampire?

As with everything else that I’ve read by Angela Carter, she has an uncanny ability to turn something that I well-recognise and twist it until it is only liltingly familiar. Turning the women from the place of rescuing, to the attackers or rescuers themselves. In this case, the young woman alone in her castle is most certainly the predator. And the endless sleep? Well, it’s kind of a happy ending…

 <- The Snow Child Review The Werewolf Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Infestation by Garth Nix

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
To Hold the Bridge

Title: Infestation
Author: Garth Nix
In: To Hold the Bridge (Garth Nix) & By Blood We Live (John Joseph Adams)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Australian authors, Urban fantasy, Vampires
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Hot Key Books
Year: 2015
5th sentence, 74th page: ‘Does it look like we did?’ asked Susan with a shudder.

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Synopsis

Aliens and vampires are infesting the world, and there is only one man who can stop them. Yet, he has a dark past too.

Thoughts

Aliens and vampires – a combination that I never expected, thought of, or have experienced before. Yet, it is something that worked brilliantly in Infestation. Actually, I was really disappointed when this ended – I wanted to know more about the slightly weird, hippy-style main character. And I wanted to know how this epic war of aliens that left us with killing-machine vampires actually turned out. Did he win the war in the end? Did he bring back his creepy sounding captain?

Again and again I remember just why I love Garth Nix – not only does he know how to spin a great yarn. But he is also able to create a vivid world that teaches us lesson after lesson. In such a fantastically unforgettable way. In this case, the aliens left the bad things behind, and you should never try to play god.

<- Stop! ReviewThe Heart of the City Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

High Stakes by Chloe Neill

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
Kicking It

Title: High Stakes
Author: Chloe Neill
Series: Chicagoland Vampires #8.25
In: Kicking It (Faith Hunter & Kalayna Price)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Paranormal fantasy, Vampires
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Roc
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: “I love you,” I said, pulling back and putting my hands on his cheeks, making him look at me and see the emotion reflected in my face.

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Synopsis

Boot-loving Cadogan vampire Lindsey must team up with off-again, on-again vampire partner Luc when a woman from her past is targeted by supernaturals in “New York Times “bestselling author Chloe Neill’s all-new adventure. 

Thoughts

The name of this story is brilliant – high stakes, stakes as in vampires. I had way too much of a giggle over this. The story title, combined with the great and engaging plot line has inspired me to buy the first book in the Chicagoland Vampires series, and I can’t wait to meet the rest of the cast and crew of this interesting vampire series (and I don’t normally like vampire books, Twilight kind of ruined that for me…).

Reading about a girl with issues always tickles my happy literary place – if someone with issues is able to find love, then anyone can. The lack of perfection in a chief protagonist makes them a much, much better and more engaging character. I like that although Lindsey’s past is coming back to haunt her in a big way and she has huge trust and commitment issues, she is able to find someone who has her back, even when she is not being nice about it.

<- Biting BadHowling for You ->

Image source: Penguin

Dark Sins by Jenna Maclaine

Book Review, , , , ,

Overview

strange-brewTitle: Dark Sins
Author: Jenna Maclaine
Series: Cin Craven #1.5
In: Strange Brew (P.N. Elrod)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Strong women, Vampires
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: Whatever the wizard had dosed him with had put him so far under that there was no consciousness left.

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Synopsis

Venice 1881, Cin Craven’s journey starts and she is forced to battle some fairly sinister forces.

Thoughts

The employment of the Morrigan in a story about vampires was not something that I expected. Neither was the merging of a vampire and a witch into one incredibly powerful being. However, it worked brilliantly! Cin Craven is everything that I love in a heroine – and the fact that she is a vampire was a different twist. Unlike a lot of vampire stories that have become popular in our modern culture, her condition as this type of paranormal creature is not fully romanticised, nor is it portrayed as something that all simpering teens desire. It was a lot darker and, due to this, felt a lot truer.

The placement of the story in 1881 Venice had so many romantic connotations – ones that were maybe not fully realised, but the use of this backdrop left a lingering feeling of love and sophistication to the carnage into which Cin steps. This juxtaposition between the two conditions and Cin’s team and those of their enemies worked beautifully to create a reality in which the storyline flourished.

 <- Ginger Review Strange Brew Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Bacon by Charlaine Harris

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
strange-brew

Title: Bacon
Author: Charlaine Harris
Series: Sookie Stackhouse #8.6
In: Strange Brew (P.N. Elrod)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal fantasy, Vampires
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: “I understand,” Kathy murmured.

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Synopsis

A beautiful Vampire named Dahlia joins forces with a Witch named Taffy from an ancient line to find out who killed her beloved husband.

Thoughts

I’m not normally a huge fan of stories that are all about revenge – it seems like most of the time it is a twisted pursuit that leaves the perpetuators shells of their former selves. However, I liked the gradual and manipulative way in which Dahlia pursues her vengeance in this short story. Not only is it a pursuit in the name of love, but the sass and flash with which she carries out her retribution completely makes up for my usual distaste in such a story.

The invocation of Circe and her descendants in this short tale finally helped me to make sense of the name of this short story – Bacon. The true cunning and wordplay of Harris actually comes to the fore, but it isn’t until the very last sentence that this wit is shown.

<- Hecate’s Golden EyeSignatures of the Dead ->

Image source: Goodreads

The Girl With No Name by Chris Marie Green

Book Review, , , , ,

Overview

The Girl With No NameTitle: The Girl With No Name
Author: Chris Marie Green
Series: Vampire Babylon #6.4
In: Kicking It (Faith Hunter & Kalayna Price)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Paranormal fantasy, Vampires
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Roc
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: At first, he smile welcomed me.

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Synopsis

Chris Marie Green brings you an urban fantasy novelette that’s full of paranormal thrills and exhilarating action!

A young woman wakes up in a strange hotel room in New Orleans with no memory of who she is, where she’s been, or what she’s doing there. All she has are a pair of boots that she can’t seem to take off. As she takes steps to uncover her identity, she realizes that she might’ve stolen the shoes, and the bad-boy psychic she’s enlisted could be luring her into the clutches of a powerful, very ticked-off backwoods sorceress who wants them back….

Thoughts

A lot of stories rely on a character that is completely removed from their familial life. Whether it’s an orphan, someone who has been removed from their clan, or they’ve watched everything around them die and go up in flames, most good characters have nothing they can return to in their past. They either have nothing to lose, or everything. Lily in The Girl with No Name takes this one step further. This story is a literal journey of self-discovery – a girl who is unable to remember her own name, let alone her past.

The nature magic employed in this short story is phenomenal – it combines the giving of mother earth with the need for payment. After all, nothing is free. This unique combination of healing, giving and taking payment all at the same time led to a twist that I didn’t expect. Always something nice in a short story, I love when you are surprised by a plot, and I’m incredibly eager to see what this author can do to a full-length novel.

<- Stolen Goods Review The Devil’s Left Boot Review ->
Image source: Goodreads